PREVIEW GAME #38 Boston @ Canadiens (April 6/2013)

….Eight of the last nine games between the Canadiens and Bruins have been decided by one goal including all three games this season.

….All four meetings between the Bruins and Canadiens have had first place in the Northeast Division on the line. Going into the first game Feb.6th the Bruins led the Canadiens by a point and moved three points ahead. On March 3rd and March 27th they were tied in points going into the games.

….The Canadiens are fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.11) and seventh in goals against per game (2.38). Their goals-for/against differential is plus-28 which ranks them third in the league behind Chicago (+42) and Pittsburgh (+32).

….Jagr debuted with the Bruins Thursday on a line with Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin who was moved to centre replacing Bergeron. Jagr’s goal was the 680th of his NHL career. Marchand has a goal and 4 assists vs. the Canadiens this season. Seguin has 3 goals and 4 assists.

….Patrice Bergeron is sidelined indefinitely with a concussion, his fourth in the NHL. He had two goals and five assists in the last two games against the Canadiens.

…..In the three games against the Canadiens Bergeron won 46 of 69 faceoffs (66%).

….Tyler Seguin has three goals and four assists in the three meetings against the Habs.

….The Bruins have won three straight after losing five of seven. However in their last two games, Bruins goaltenders have had to deal with 85 shots including 40 in the 1-0 win over New Jersey Thursday.

….The Canadiens have won the last three in at home and four of five overall

….All nine of Michael Ryder’s Canadiens goals have come in the last 11 games,

….The Bruins opened the season with only 14 games over the schedule’s first 34 days. Since then they have played 22 in 40 days.

….Including the March 3rd Canadiens win in Boston, the Bruins are 10-6-2 over their last 18 games. Over the same stretch the Canadiens have played two fewer games and are 11-4-1.

….The Canadiens have 8 goals their last 25 power play opportunies (32%).

….Over the last eight games Canadiens penalty killers have allowed 2 goals in 23 shorthanded situations (92% success kill ratio) and they have moved from 21st in the league in overall penalty killing statistics to 12th.

….Boston still leads the league in penalty killing with a 91,9% success ratio (11/123)

Season Series – Final meeting of four. @Bell Centre Feb. 6 Boston-2 Canadiens-1 Boston’s 5th straightr win over the Canadiens. Newly formed Krejci line scores 2 goals in three third period shifts. Krejci with game winner. Tyler Seguin a goal and assist. . Tuuka Rask made 20 saves. Canadiens led 1-0 on a P.K. Subban PPG. @Boston Mar. 3 Canadiens-4 Boston-3 Pacioretty and Desharnais score unanswered goals in the third period. Desharnais had two goals. Plekanec also scored. Seguin, Bergeron and Hamilton for Boston. Peter Budaj faced 34 shots. Keying the comeback a 17 minute penalty assessed to Zdeno Chara after he hunted down Alexei Emelin after Emelin had cross checked Seguin in the back. Chara was in the penalty box for both Canadiens third period goals. @Boston Mar. 27 Canadiens-6 Boston-5 (shootout) Peter Budaj replaced Carey Price for the third period and stopped all six attempts in the shootout. Canadiens come back from 4-2 and 5-3 deficits. Gallagher scored shootout winner. Michael Ryder with two goals plus Subban, Gallagher and Markov with 9 seconds left on a power play. Hamilton, Marchand, Bergeron Horton and Seguin for Boston.